Creating a one-page website presents unique challenges, particularly in organizing content in a concise yet effective manner. Many developers and business owners grapple with the task of presenting all necessary information on a single page without overwhelming visitors.
The key to success lies in strategic layout and design choices that promote ease of navigation and aesthetic appeal.
In this article, we are going to delve into the steps required to build an engaging and efficient one-page website, from concept to launch.
What is a One-Page Website?
A one-page website is a sleek, compact online platform that condenses all its content onto a single page. Rather than navigating through multiple pages, visitors simply scroll down through neatly organized sections to discover everything from the company's about us information to services, contact details, and more.
This design approach not only enhances user experience by providing immediate access to all relevant information but also ensures smooth, intuitive interactions. Particularly favored by startups, personal portfolios, and event promotions, one-page websites excel in delivering straightforward, creative, and engaging digital storytelling.
What Should a One-Page Website Include?
Hero Section
The hero section is the first section visitors see. It usually features a strong, attention-grabbing headline, a brief introduction, and often a call-to-action (CTA) button. It sets the tone and introduces users to what the site or company offers.
Note: Common Ninja has a large selection of customizable CTA buttons that you can easily add to your hero section.
About Us Section
This section provides a snapshot of the company or individual, highlighting who they are, what they do, and what makes them unique. It's crucial for building trust and connection. On a regular website, this information would often be found on the “About Us” page.
Note: Common Ninja offers lots of widgets that can be used to display your team in aesthetically pleasing and interactive ways!
Services or Products Section
Here, you detail the services offered or products sold. This section should be clear and concise, providing enough information to understand the offerings without needing to navigate away.
Note: Common Ninja has lots of widgets that can be used to display products and services.
Portfolio or Case Studies Section
For businesses that rely on visual work or successful case outcomes, this section showcases work samples or detailed case studies to demonstrate expertise and results.
Testimonials or Reviews Section
Featuring quotes or feedback from previous customers or clients builds credibility and trust, showing prospective clients the satisfaction and value others have found.
Note: Common Ninja offers both testimonial and review widgets that can be easily added to your website.
Call-to-Action (CTA)
Strategic CTA buttons should be placed throughout the page to encourage users to take action, whether it's contacting for more information, booking a consultation, or making a purchase.
Note: Common Ninja has a large selection of customizable CTA buttons that you can easily add to your hero section.
Contact Information
A dedicated section for contact details, including phone number, email, and possibly a contact form, alongside links to social media profiles. On a regular website, this information would usually be found on the “Contacts Us” page.
Footer
Though it's a one-page site, a footer is still essential. It typically includes copyright information, privacy policy, and possibly quick links or social media icons.
Note: Common Ninja has the beautiful Mega Footer widget that you can add to your website.
Responsive Design
The site must utlize responsive web design and be mobile-friendly, adjusting smoothly to different device sizes and orientations.
Sticky Navigation
Even in a one-page layout, a fixed navigation bar at the top or side helps users quickly jump to different sections of the page. It typically updates to indicate the current section as the user scrolls.
How To Create a One-Page Website?
Step 1: Choose Your Website Builder
There are lots of available website-building platforms today. How many you ask? Well, there are well over 200 website and e-commerce builders.
Clearly, not all are on the same level or for the same purpose, but the sheer amount is both fascinating and scary. Fascinating because it means that there’s a lot to choose from, and scary because there’s too much to choose from.
Luckily, there are around 20 that truly stand out in terms of the features they offer, how easy it is to use them, and their prices. We have a great article about the best website builders out there that you should definitely take a look at.
Great Website Builders for a One-Page Website
While the above gives you a broad overview of website building, here are some website builders that could be great for building a One-Page website:
Carrd
If you're looking to create a sleek and straightforward one-page website, Carrd is a fantastic choice. Its user-friendly interface and minimalist design templates make it easy to build beautiful, responsive sites without any coding knowledge.
Carrd is particularly well-suited for portfolios, personal profiles, and landing pages, offering a clean and modern aesthetic that highlights your content effectively.
Wix
Wix is a versatile website builder that excels at creating one-page websites. With its drag-and-drop editor and a vast selection of templates, you can design a stunning and fully customizable site that fits your vision.
Wix's extensive app market allows you to add various functionalities, making it ideal for showcasing products, services, or personal projects on a single page.
Squarespace
For those who want a polished and professional one-page website, Squarespace is an excellent option. Known for its elegant and high-quality templates, Squarespace makes it easy to create visually impressive websites.
Its robust design tools and seamless integrations are perfect for artists, photographers, and businesses looking to make a strong online impression with a single, impactful page.
Weebly
Weebly is a great choice for building a one-page website, offering a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes the design process intuitive and straightforward.
Weebly provides a variety of customizable templates and essential features like e-commerce and blogging tools. It's an excellent platform for small businesses, portfolios, and personal sites that need to convey all their information concisely on one page.
Strikingly
Strikingly specializes in creating stunning one-page websites that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Its user-friendly platform allows you to build and publish a site quickly, with beautiful templates designed to engage visitors.
Strikingly is ideal for startups, freelancers, and anyone looking to create a compelling online presence with a single, scrollable page.
Choose a Hosting Plan (Optional)
Depending on what website builder you chose, you may have to get a hosting plan separately. We have a great guide on the top 10 hosting providers available on the market. Mind you that many of these offer the option to get a domain name, too.
Choose a Domain Name (Optional)
Depending on what website builder you choose, and on what hosting plan you choose, you may have to get a domain name separately.
Step 2: Start Designing Your Website
Choose a Template (Optional)
Some website builders offer pre-made templates that you can choose from for specific website types. This is a great way to save time on design.
Choose Color Schemes
Color schemes are super important in website design and branding. They're not just for show—colors can really affect how we feel and react. If a brand chooses the right colors, it can guide our eyes where they want, make us feel a certain way, and even get us to take action.
This is where color theory comes in. It's basically the science of how colors work together and how they make us feel. For instance, blue usually makes us feel calm and trustful, red stirs up energy and passion, and green symbolizes growth. So, when a brand chooses colors that match its vibe and the feelings it wants to evoke, it can really boost its recognition and trust with customers. Super cool, right?
Choose Fonts
Font pairing is like the secret sauce in website design and branding. Just like colors, the fonts you choose can really set the mood and deliver your brand message. You've got to think about the vibes different fonts give off. A fancy script might feel elegant, while a bold, all-caps font can scream confidence and power.
The trick is in finding fonts that complement each other without clashing or looking too similar. That's why we do font pairing. You want your headline font to grab attention, but it needs to work well with your body text font, which should be easy to read. So, for instance, you might pair a decorative font for your headers with a simple, clean one for the body text. Get it right, and you're on your way to a website that looks super professional and keeps your visitors reading. It's a bit like a good music duo—each part's got to be good on its own, but together they create a whole new level of awesome!
Step 3: Publish The Website
When you are done setting up and designing your website, publish it. And that’s it.
How To Enhance Your One-Page Website?
Enhance Your Website With Powerful Widgets
While many of the website builders we recommended are great for building your One-Page website, they are somewhat limited in the features and tools they offer, and, in a competitive world, every additional feature that you can add to your website can be a game changer.
That’s where Common Ninja comes in to save the day.
Common Ninja offers an extensive, ever-growing collection of professional and reliable widgets that will help you save time and money and improve your website beyond what your current website-building platform offers.
Common Ninja’s widgets are free, fully customizable, perfectly responsive, and easy to use (just check our YouTube guides), so be sure to check them out, and greatly improve your website.
Common Ninja — The Only Collection of Widgets You’ll Ever Need
Content
Content is an important part of any website, no matter what niche it’s in. Content can include anything from text, images, videos, and other media that informs, educates, or entertains the audience, and we highly recommend that you add good content to your website.
It is crucial for several reasons:
- It provides value to visitors — good content, can provide value to users, whether these are guides, service or product comparisons, tips, tricks, or other equally helpful content.
- It builds trust and credibility — by creating good, well-written, and well-researched content, you can increase trust in your brand and improve its credibility.
- It improves SEO: Search engines like Google prioritize websites with high-quality, relevant content, so by creating content that includes relevant keywords and provides value to your audience, you can improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your website.
- It drives conversions — well-written content that addresses pain points, with strategically placed CTAs can drive conversions, such as sign-ups, purchases, or inquiries, up.
- It establishes your brand’s voice and identity — the content on your website is an opportunity to establish your brand’s voice and identity. Consistent and high-quality content can help your brand stand out and create a memorable impression on your audience.
Optimization
Optimizing a website is essential for improving its visibility on search engines, increasing traffic, and improving the user experience. Here are some effective ways to optimize your website:
- Remove unnecessary distractions
- Improve page speed
- Optimize for mobile
- Optimize forms
- Write good copy
- Write good CTAs
- Define and communicate your value proposition
- Localize content
Promotion
Promoting a website is essential for increasing its visibility and driving traffic to it.
It requires time & effort, and here are some ways that can help you promote your website:
- Social Media: Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram are great for promoting your website, building a following, and driving traffic to it.
- Email marketing: Building an email list is an effective way to promote your website, reach your audience directly, and keep them updated on your latest content or products.
- Paid advertising: Paid advertising through platforms like Google Ads or social media ads can help you reach a larger audience and drive targeted traffic to your website.
- Collaboration: Collaborating with other websites in your niche can help you gain exposure, drive traffic to your site and improve your SEO via backlinking.
- Incentives: Offering incentives like discounts, free trials, or giveaways can attract new users to your website and encourage them to share it with others.
Conclusion
In wrapping up, building a one-page website can be a streamlined approach to web development that aligns well with the needs of businesses seeking simplicity and users desiring quick access to information.
This article has outlined the critical steps and considerations in crafting a one-page site that not only looks great but also functions seamlessly. By focusing on a clean design, intuitive navigation, and responsive elements, developers can create a compelling one-page website that effectively meets the needs of both business and visitors.
